Love Tanzania

Picture of Vic Murphy doing stunts prior to my message in a Muslim neighborhood soccer field.

Love Tanzania

Crowd shot! This is the location I was told not to use a sound system nor microphone as there was concern this almost exclusively Muslim neighborhood might respond in a hostile way. I prayed and sensed the Lord "green light" me to preach very loudly so that all who were near would hear the Gospel. The mosque was across the street and as I was nearing the end the Muslim call to prayer went out from the
Mosque so I preached louder still. Then an amazing peace fell over the teens and men (no women) as I lead into the critical parts of the Gospel. As if the Holy Spirit just descended and  brought a sense of peace, hush after commotion and wonder!  About 200 responded and close to 350 heard in the wider area the photo does not show. The church was very excited about this move of God.

Love Tanzania

My wonderful translator for the week on the right. He is with Paulo (sp?) who is one of the Muslims who responded. He came up to me and Isaac after praying to say he would follow Jesus. Issac was encouraging him!

Tanzania

Mike is currently in Tanzania with the Luis Palau Association for a week of ministry and a weekend festival with Andrew Palau.  The teams are conducting daily eyeglass clinics in 4 different locations and are planning on seeing around 10,000 people!  Mike and his team are speaking several times daily at area secondary schools and another evangelist (Doug Horley) is speaking at local primary schools.  Play for Hope is an organization with outreaches through soccer and basketball and will be conducting clinics for the young people.  The festival is coming up this weekend, August 11th and 12th.  The week started off with many various trials for many of the team members demonstrating the enemy's determination to thwart this weeks plans.   It has been a spiritual battle but our God is stronger!  Mike has relayed the following information from Dar es Salaam:
"On Monday there was an amazing move of God! I started at 6 a.m. at a church that hosts a daily prayer, worship, and devotional time for the city.  There are about 800 who meet every week!  Then I spoke twice more to about 700 people and watched the Lord move about 320 to respond to Christ, including Muslim males complete with skull hats and long robes. One man who looked about 55 excitedly shot his hand up wanting to receive Jesus!   The eyeglass clinics treated over 1,000 people the first day and Andrew is experiencing favor with the bishops and city and church leaders.  The soccer clinic Monday had about 300 kids but probably about the same amount watched from a near distance.  It was in a predominantly poor Muslim neighborhood.
Tuesday I spoke again at another soccer clinic and this area was exclusively Muslim.  I was warned/told not to use speakers or a microphone and to tone down the message.  About 350 listened, mostly soccer team members made up of teens and men in their early 20's.  The BMX guys came and performed their stunts.  Then I felt the Lord wanted me to project my voice very loudly so the Muslim men off on the sides listening about 50 yards away could hear.  We watched as God powerfully moved and about 70 young men  respond to Jesus. "
So though their week was off to a rough start, God's spirit is moving mightily in this city!  I know the whole team so values the prayer cover of those praying on behalf of the work there.  If you'd like to read more from the Palau website, you can click here.   http://www.palau.org/events/festivals/tanzania/

Eddy the Taxi Driver

 This is a great little story from Dar es Salaam!   The hotel where our team stayed has a taxi service which has been used by several of the Luis Palau team members on previous trips as well as this one.  One driver in particular has been used frequently. His name is Eddy.   Eddy has really been drawn by the Lord through driving the team around over time.   He is of Roman Catholic background but had no connection to the church or the Lord.  On Thursday, one of the team members,  PJ Meduri of Taking the Field Ministries, left the hotel at 4:30 am to head to the airport to fly off to Arise Kilimanjaro.  PJ was able to share a Swahili tract with Eddy. And on that cab ride,  PJ was able to lead Eddy to the Lord!   Fast forward 12 hours later - and Eddy is now taking me to an evening flight home.  He could not contain his excitement and shared with me his encounter with the Lord and PJ.  He said his heart was "full and happy all day".  Eddy and I discussed next steps and how he can grow in his relationship with Christ.  At the airport he gave me a big bear hug -most unusual for an Africa with a stranger.  It spoke volumes to me of a genuine work of God.   As PJ was obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, Eddy was able to open his heart to Christ.  Thank you PJ for that obedience!! 

Please pray with us for Eddy and his spiritual growth and connection to a local church!

Mike Ministering in Tanzania

Pastors in Training in Tanzania